Rotarians Have High Hopes For Weekend Flea Market, Auction

APOPKA — Rotarians are starting a fund-raising flea market and auction that they hope will become one of the city's major annual events.

The first of the communitywide projects will be held Saturday and Sunday in Apopka City Park on Park Avenue between First and Orange streets.

Rotarians said they hope several other civic clubs, churches and organizations will join in to help make Apopka's Fantastic Flea Market and Auction large enough to continue each year. The club is renting booth space to organizations and table space to individuals.

Earl Nelson, project chairman, said he believes the fund-raiser will become a leading event within three years.

''We're just wading in this first time, and we'll have to see how it goes,'' said Rotary President Charles Hughes. ''If it is successful we will probably continue it as an ongoing project through the years.''

The flea market ''was basically instituted as a fund-raiser for the Rotary, but then we decided to give other civic groups and organizations an opportunity to do the same,'' Hughes said.

''We decided to share because it will benefit the community through all the community projects these groups support,'' he said.

Groups may reserve space, first-come, first-served, for booths that are 12 feet by 24 feet at a cost of 10 percent of the booth's gross sales -- with a minimum charge of $35. For $10, individuals may rent 12 square feet of space to set up a table.

Reservations are being handled by the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce and may be made by calling Susan Williams at 886-1441.

Mayor John Land, a Rotary member, will be the auctioneer for the bidding, scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday.

He said the auction will include things such as a Rototiller and new dolls that have been donated.

The auction is ''a golden opportunity for clubs or individuals to make money because it is close to home,'' he said.

''They can bring all the treasures they can make and all the old goodies they can find in the back and they can get rid of some stuff, make some money, and have fun almost right in their own back yard,'' Nelson said.

''We're hoping a lot of clubs and individuals will come and that we can drag people from all over the area here,'' he said.

Nelson said the Rotarians hope to earn a profit of at least $2,000 for the community projects they support.

The fee charged individuals and groups will help pay project expenses such as advertising, police and portable toilets, he said.

''That's our only reason for charging,'' he said. ''We're not trying to make our money off other clubs and individuals.''

Admission will be free to the public.

Groups that have signed up to participate include Apopka's Foliage Sertoma Club, the Foliage Garden Club, the Temporary Living Center and two churches.

Nelson said people with extra items around the house who do not want a table at the flea market could donate their things to the Rotary or another participating group.

The Foliage Sertoma Club will sell hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks. Rotarians will have a barbecue booth.

Flea market hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.